Protecting covers for nipples on nursing bottles



y 14, 1964 P. A. Dl PRlMA 3,140,789

PROTECTING COVERS FOR NIPPLES ON NURSING BOTTLES Filed June 25. 1962 INVENTOR.

PHILIP A Di PRIMA ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,140,789 PROTECTING COVERS FOR NIPPLES 0N NURSING BOTTLES Philip A. Di Prima, 2036 Cruger Ave., Bronx, N.Y. Filed June 25, 1962, Ser. No. 204,676 6 Claims. (Cl. 21511) This invention relates to covers for use to house and protect a nipple mounted on a nursery bottle.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a simply constructed cover that is easily mountable over and about a nipple on a nursing bottle and which will remain locked in place about the nipple during sterilization of a prepared bottle and until deliberate action is undertaken to remove the cap for making the contents of the bottle available for consumption.

Another object is to provide a disposable and relatively inexpensive envelope-type sheath or cover consisting of two walls of flexible sheet material which are readily expandable to enclose a nipple and to transform notches in the walls into an opening for receiving the nipple, and which may be mounted securely about the nipple without more than the placing of the opened cover over the nipple and about the base of the nipple, or about the skirt of a nipple-retaining ring of a screw-top type of bottle.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be best understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a cover of the present invention in place about a nipple mounted on a nursing bottle and showing a lower corner partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is a view as seen from line 22 of FIG. 1 and showing generally the open mouth of the cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the cover of FIG. 1 with its walls flattened on one another preliminarily to the opening of the cover;

FIG. 4 is a plan of a blank for the cover shown in FIG. 3, on a reduced scale;

FIG. 5 is a plan for a blank, on a reduced scale, for forming the cover shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a cover of the present invention, modified for use on a screw-top nursing bottle. I

In the drawing, certain specified disclosure of the invention is made for the purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.

The cover shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 is constituted of a single piece of a flexible sheet material which may be of paper or of other suitable material. As shown in FIG. 3, the cover has a front side wall 10, a rear side wall 11, an upper edge 12, opposite side edges 13 and 14, and a notched lower edge 15. For convenience in packaging and handling the cover is generally rectangular in shape before it is expanded.

The opposite walls 10 and 11 are flexed and curved outwardly from one another preliminarily to applying the cover over a nipple simply by pressing the lower ends of the side edges 13 and 14 toward one another. The lower edges of the front and rear walls 10 and 11 are notched, respectively, at 17 and at 18 to form an opening 19, FIG. 2, at the lower end of the cover when the walls are spread apart.

Straps 20 and 21 respectively extend between and connect the walls at opposite sides of the opening 19. The

outer edges 22 and 23 of the respective straps are displaced inwardly from the side edges 13 and 14 of the cover, whereby the straps are free to extend between the walls 10 and 11 and to flex to assume a generally inwardly and upwardly inclined position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when the walls are spread apart from one another.

When the cover is positioned over a nipple on a bottle, the straps 20 and 21 are disposed. at diametrically oppo site sides of the neck of the bottle with the inner edges 24 and 25, respectively, directly underlying opposite segments of the base 26 of the nipple. The expanded condition of the cover is maintained by the engagement of the base of the nipple with the rounded surfaces of the walls 10 and 11 and the expanded walls maintain the straps extended, whereby inadvertent withdrawal of the cover is prevented.

The cover shown in FIG. 1 is so proportioned as to enclose a pull-on type of nipple 27. An annular groove within the nipple engages the bead on a standard type of nursing bottle commonly used in hospitals. The extended straps 20 and 21 provide relatively firm locking means which prevent the withdrawal of the cover from about a nipple so long as the straps are not mutilated by an intentional application of force.

By forming the straps with their outer edges 22 and 23, respectively, inward from the edges 13 and 14, vents or openings 28 and 29 are provided at the lower portions of the cover. These openings provide for the equalization of pressure on the interior and exterior of the cover, and also facilitate drainage from the lower end of the cover.

The opening 19 is located on the longitudinal centerline of the cover and it is generally rectangular in shape in the blank 30, as shown in FIG. 4, although a tab 31 may be provided to facilitate the lifting of a lower edge of one of the walls from the other in expanding the lower end of the cover.

The blank 30 preferably is cut from a single piece of sheet material. In includes four flaps 32, 33, 34 and 35 which, when folded along the foldlines 12 13 14 and 15 and fastened together, form the rear side wall 11 of the cover. The center panel 10 forms the front side wall 10 of the cover. The flaps 32 and 33 are sufficiently wide to overlap one another partially. The flap 34 folds against the folded flaps 32 and 33 in a manner to completely close the top of the cover. Any adhesive suitable for maintaining its adhesive qualities under pressure and temperature conditions of sterilization, may be employed to fasten the flaps to one another.

The width of the flap 35 is preferably less than the width of the panel 10 and the height of the flaps 32 and 33 at the foldlines 13 and 14 is preferably less than the maximum height of the panel 10 The conforma tions of the lower edges of the flaps 32 and 33 are such as to clear, or to coincide with, the edge 18 of the opening 19 when the flaps are folded. The edge 18 is a marginal edge of the notch 18, FIG. 3, in the rear wall 11 of a completed cover.

The folded blank as formed into a cover is illustrated in FIG. 3. The width of the notches 17 and 18 and the overall length of the margin of the opening 19 are so dimensioned as to bring the lower mid-portions of the opposite walls of the cover into contact with opposite sides of the circumference of the base of a nipple, thereby causing a shortening of the horizontal distance between the straps 20 and 21 to a dimension less than the outer diameter of the base of a nipple when the cover is mounted in place over a nipple on a bottle. Owing to the camming action of the base of the nipple on the upwardly and inwardly pitched straps 20 and 21 as a cover is thrust in place over a nipple, the aforesaid horizontal distance may be such as to shorten to a dimension which is less a than the diameter of the lip 36 at the lower end of the nipple, and this is particularly desirable for covers designed for use on bottles having large mouths. A cover for a large mouthed bottle is relatively larger than that illustrated in FIG. 3 and its lower portion becomes more circular when it is mounted in place.

The contour of the blank of FIG. 5 is similar to that of the blank previously described except that it is relatively larger for forming a cover for use with a screwtop nurser. It includes four flaps 37, 38, 39 and 40, which, when folded upon one another, form a side wall of the cover, the other side wall being formed by the central panel 41. The opening 4-2 may be fashioned with tabs 43, 44, if desired, to lengthen the skirt of the cover at the centerlines of the opposite side walls.

A well-known type of a screw-to nursing bottle or nurser has a nipple-retaining ring, FIG. 6, with an internally threaded flange overhanging the adjacent wall of the neck of a bottle to which a nipple and the retaining ring are aflixed. The retaining ring corresponds, in effect, to the base of a pull-on type of nipple insofar as the present invention is concerned.

In order to have the lower portion of a cover 46 surround the flange 45 fairly closely, the width of the central panel 41 (FIG. 5) between the foldlines 4'7 and 48 should be but a little greater than one-half of the outer circumference of the retaining ring. A cover measuring three inches widthwise, when collapsed, is well suited for use with a standard nurser having a retaining ring with an outside diameter of about one and threequarters inches. The inside edges 49, 50 of the respective straps 51 and 52 connecting between the central panel 41 and the flap 40 are preferably formed to jut towards each other on the foldlines 53 and 54.

A cover is prepared for use when the flaps 37, 38, 39 and 40 have been folded against one another and fastened together. By applying the adhesive for holding the flap 40 against the folded flaps 37 and 38 remotely from the opening 42, for example, as indicated at 55, the portion of the flap adjacent the lower end of the cover is left unbound in the interest of providing resiliency.

A cover is shown in FIG. 6 in place upon a screw-top nurser. As the lower end of the cover is opened, the straps 51 and 52 become inwardly and upwardly inclined. When the open cover is advanced onto the retaining ring, the straps yield and curve outwardly at their inside edges in conformity with the cylindrical exterior of the flange 45. Th portions 55 and 56 of the straps which are provided by the flap 40 are free to bulge out slightly as the cover is slid over the retaining ring. When the cover has been advanced to a position in which the inner edges of the straps clear the retaining cap, the outwardly curved portions of the straps spring inwardly into contact with the neck of the bottle. In this latter position the inside edges 45 and 50 of the straps lie beneath the lower edge of the retaining ring. As a consequence, the cover cannot be withdrawn without overcoming the obstructing resistance provided by the straps.

By cutting the inside edges 59 and 50 to form inwardly protruding elements, as described with reference to FIG. 5, fingers are provided which will enter an annular groove 57 between the retaining ring and the bottle neck if the cover is raised, thereby augmenting the grip of the cover on the bottle.

While the invention herein shown and described is adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to embodiment in the specific forms of covers herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of use in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A protective cover for use to house a nipple mounted on a nursery bottle, said cover including two side walls of flexible sheet material having a generally rectangular configuration, said walls being connected to gether at foldlines respectively located at opposite side edges of the walls and at a foldline along the upper edges of the walls, the lower edges of said walls being hingedly connected at foldlines respectively located at opposite sides of a notch in the lower edge of the respective walls, the said notch in each of said side walls together providing a single opening located in the bottom of the cover centrally between said opposite side edges of the walls, the margin of said opening being dimensioned to require flexing for slipping the bottom of an expanded cover outside of the base of a nipple on the neck of a nursery bottle, whereby when the cover is disposed about the nipple the foldlines at the lower edges of said walls are pitched inwardly and upwardly towards the underside of the base of the nipple at opposite sides of the bottle and accidental withdrawal of the cover from over the nipple is resisted thereby.

2. A protective cover for use to house a nipple mounted on a nursery bottle, comprising: two normally flat walls of flexible sheet material connected together along a foldline at the top edges of said walls and along foldlines at opposite side edges of said walls at either side of the longitudinal centerline of the walls, means extending between and connecting said walls at opposite sides of an opening in the lower end of said cover, said opening centered with respect to the central axis of the nipple, said connecting means including straps adapted to flex for passing outside of the base of a nipple on the neck of a nursery bottle, said straps having inner edges spaced apart by said opening and outer edges respectively spaced from the respective foldlines at said opposite side edges of said walls, said straps respectively having a creaseline extending between said inner and outer edges of each strap, the outer edges of said straps providing marginal edges of openings adjacent the outer ends of said creaselines, said straps extendable between said walls across diametrically opposite rim portions of the base of a nipple and beneath said rim portions to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the cover from about the nipple.

3. A nipple cover blank cut to form a substantially rectangular front wall panel and flaps connected to said front wall panel along foldlines located at opposite side edges and at upper and lower edges of the front wall panel, said flaps being so proportioned with respect to one another as to form the rear wall of said cover when folded on said foldlines and laid against the back of said front wall panel, said blank having an opening cut through the blank, said opening located in part in the lower portion of said front wall panel and in part in the one of said flaps connected to the lower edge of said front wall panel so that when said flap connected to the lower edge of said front wall panel is folded against the back of the front wall panel, the foldline at the lower edge of the front wall panel is interrupted by said opening.

4. A protective cover for encompassing a nipple mounted on the neck of a nursery bottle and secured thereto by a nipple retaining member, said cover comprising an envelope of flexible material having substantially coextensive front and rear walls joined along foldlines at opposite side edges of said envelope and at the upper edge of said envelope, said front and rear walls also joined together at their lower edges along a creaseline at either side of an opening in the lower portion of said envelope, said opening formed by a notch located in the lower portion of each of said front and rear walls substantially mid-way between said opposite side edges of the envelope, said notches having edge portions disposed at the sides of said notches respectively meeting said creaselines at either side of said notches, the combined length of the edges of said notches together providing the margin of said opening so that when said front and rear walls are spread apart to encompass a nipple, the lower portions of said front and rear walls adjoining said creaselines flex upwardly and move inwardly towards one another as said opening is spread open for the purpose of introducing the nipple through said opening, said lower portions of said front and rear walls adapted to urge opposite parts of the margin of said opening in the vicinity of said creaselines towards the neck of the bottle after the nipple-retaining member has passed through said opening.

5. A cover as described in claim 4 in which said edge portionsof said notches which meet with said creaselines are so sloped with respect to the perpendicular to said creaselines to provide opposite projections in the lower portions of said front and rear walls projecting inwardly of said opening.

6. A cover as described in claim 4 in which the length of each of said creaselines is less than the distance between its meeting point with an edge of a notch and the foldline along the nearest side edge of the envelope, whereby vent openings are provided in the lower corners of the envelope.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,607,345 Bachia et al. Aug. 19, 1952 

1. A PROTECTIVE COVER FOR USE TO HOUSE A NIPPLE MOUNTED ON A NURSERY BOTTLE, SAID COVER INCLUDING TWO SIDE WALLS OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL HAVING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION, SAID WALLS BEING CONNECTED TOGETHER AT FOLDLINES RESPECTIVELY LOCATED AT OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF THE WALLS AND AT A FOLDLINE ALONG THE UPPER EDGES OF THE WALLS, THE LOWER EDGES OF SAID WALLS BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT FOLDLINES RESPECTIVELY LOCATED AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF A NOTCH IN THE LOWER EDGE OF THE RESPECTIVE WALLS, THE SAID NOTCH IN EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS TOGETHER PROVIDING A SINGLE OPENING LOCATED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE COVER CENTRALLY BETWEEN SAID OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF THE WALLS, THE MARGIN OF SAID OPENING BEING DIMENSIONED TO REQUIRE FLEXING FOR SLIPPING THE BOTTOM OF AN EXPANDED COVER OUTSIDE OF THE BASE OF A NIPPLE ON THE NECK OF A NURSERY BOTTLE, WHEREBY WHEN THE COVER IS DISPOSED ABOUT THE NIPPLE THE FOLDLINES AT THE LOWER EDGES OF SAID WALLS ARE PITCHED INWARDLY AND UPWARDLY TOWARDS THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BASE OF THE NIPPLE AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BOTTLE AND ACCIDENTAL WITHDRAWAL OF THE COVER FROM OVER THE NIPPLE IS RESISTED THEREBY. 